HCA: Hermit Crab Association

OK, we're coming up on three months that I've had these guys. (3 small-small/medium PP's)

And not once have I ever seen anyone dig!

I read posts about how some of you have such enthusiastic diggers or they at least dig.
Mine do none, nada!

My guys haven't molted yet either.

And ever since I got them a cork log (which they seem to love),
all they do is eat it, sit on it, and sleep either on/in that darn thing.

About the only "normal" thing they've done is that they all changed shells immediately once natural shells were placed in their tat.

I just switched them over to a new and slightly larger tank last night.
I couldn't believe my luck, all three of them just happened to be off of the log when the time came!
That hasn't happened but maybe once since they got it.
Otherwise, I would have had to move the log to the new Tat with them on it.
They wouldn't have turned lose of it, that I'm sure of.

Maybe it's kinda mean, but, I didn't put it or the replacement log in their new tat.

Since they got that log they are so boring to watch, unless you like watching them eat and sleep.....
They have just about taken the 'ole log down to half of it's original size.
Actually, it's looking pretty ragged and I had reservations about putting it in their nice new Tat.
(Don't worry, it has been cleaned several times with boiling water and let dry completely before being returned to them.)

I have a new one ready to go, but I thought I would leave it out for a while just to see if anything changes.

They moved around a lot more in the beginning.

Since the log's arrival their activity has slowed way down, to almost none.
They've basically been just bumps on a log.

Their new home has cholla, nets, coco huts, branches, lots of plants, and vines.
I was hoping that would be a fair substitute for taking away their favorite ratty old log.
Tonight they're at the very top of the Cholla branch, all huddled up together sleeping.

But, is there something wrong?
Is this normal with cork logs?

Why don't they come down and be active anymore?
I have worried that maybe their substrate was unsatisfactory to them, or that it's not warm enough, or something else???
Could there be something wrong about the ground surface, and they don't want to be down there?
I know that they are tree climbers etc. but I almost never see them moving around anymore.
I'm a night person myself, so it's not that they're nocturnal and I just don't see them.
Sometimes I will catch them at a dish eating or drinking.
Then it's right back up on the log.

I'm hoping that with all of their new toys they will get active again.
It's still only day one....

Other than the substrate being just a little on the damp side IMO (but, not soaked either) their Tat conditions have been good.
It's 80/80 pretty consistently.
They get the proper food groups, the two waters, calcium, protein, and HCA ordered food and shells, etc.
I have tried to give them the best of everything and all that they need.

I'm just worried that there is something wrong and I don't have a clue as to what it could be.
Am I missing something?
They don't seem to act like everyone else's crabs do.....
What could they be lacking or maybe have too much of?

Has anyone else ever had any crabs with this kind of behavior?
I'm open to suggestions.......

Thank you

the thing with them not digging is fine, some of my crabs LOVE to dig around and some just climb on of things and stay in their little house!

It does sound like you are doing everything fine. And really they are acting like crabs just not all crabs. The fact that they don't dig could be a compliment on your tat set up really. They may feel comfortable enough that they don't need to hide underground. As far as molting goes, they will molt when they are good and ready. To encourage more exploring of the tank you could try small separate food dishes placed in different areas of the tat. Protein in one dish, calcium in another dish, and so on. Then they may wander a bit more.

"They are just being bumps on a log" .... LOL Love it! a least they are that! My PP's are never out when I'm aound, they just come out and empty the food dish at night when I'm sleeping, then back to snoozing all day long.

The reason new crabs molt right away or dig and hide is because of all the time they spent in the shipping and handling process before they got to the store, not to mention the store, and all the stress they go through during this process. If they haven't molted, and your conditions are proper (another reason they wait is because something's wrong, like humidity or heat too low) then they are probably just healthier then most newbies and don't need to molt. Remember that word, need. Because they won't molt until they need to!
Them hanging out on the log all the time is great, they're not scared of their new enviornment and they're comfortable enough to be out in the open! And let's be honest, sitting on a log is alot more interesting then being underground, where you don't see them at all for extended periods of time! They aren't very exciting pets like puppies, most people would be jealous that you can at least see your crabs most/all of the time! If they love the log that much, I would put it somewhere tucked away so they can still enjoy it but you don't have to see it since it's 'ratty' just my opinion, but I spoil my crabs..sooo..

(just as a side note, mine seem to enjoy the cork log alot more then the cholla I have (if that helps answer your Q about cork) so by keeping the cork in the tank I get to see mine fairly often )

Thanks for all of the input. It makes me feel better.

I guess maybe I've been taking it all out of perspective.

The posts that I've seen are about something that crabs are doing is always exciting in one way or another.
Either there are problems, something unusual, or they're just downright cute.

Nobody ever really posts about how they watched their "kids" sleep all day or that they haven't seen them in ages. (unless it's under an alarming circumstance)

After the initial "new crabber's panic" is gone and things are going right, the worry, worry, worry, instinct still hangs on.

I still can't help but wonder if I am doing everything right sometimes.

I've heard that PP's are pretty resilient, so I should be grateful I guess, especially with all of my initial blunders.

If I want excitement maybe after getting this crab care thing down pat and a little more confidence I should take in some E's.
I guess that they are more active and faster moving, but, need more care?
They seem to have a lot of character and personality.

I like that....




I'm just glad that my "little monsters" seem to be pretty normal.
Maybe a tad bit lazy, but doing OK.

I am still open to suggestions or comments.
It's all a learning experience.

You gotta love forums don't Ya?


Thanks again!

You just explained the majority of my PPs. Herbit pretty much never leaves the hermit hut and it's starting to get to the point where I think his best friend (Upsidedown, who also hardly leaves) must be bringing him food or something. Blugbug hardly leaves the cork log. They all love that log. Most of my PPs sleep A LOT. My Es are pretty active though. If they are sleeping, it's often in a new location.


One thing I have found, is that once you have had them a few months, they like to enjoy fresh air. If your garden is pesticide safe, what I do, is I take them outside on nice days and I keep them in a sandbox with climbing toys and food, water, and shells. I make sure to spray them with water so their gills are ok, but after 15 minutes outside, I take them to my living room and I set up the humidifier in there. You have to watch them because sometimes they can still climb out, but even my shyest PPs came out and climbed around. They got really active with that. They are still sleepy and such in their tank, but there sandbox time is pretty exciting. Some of them took longer to come out with it, but eventually they all did.

It's my crab's month-iversary tomorrow, and they are no longer always in their cave. They have their favorite perches, but they usually just hang out. They did some renovations in their cave, making it deeper by digging up the substrate (looking for China?), but they haven't molted or anything, nor do they tunnel. They are all kinda hairy-legged, so I assume they molted recently enough, and they are starting to get over their shy, so I'm excited to see them hanging out on the choya and in the hammock.

Ohhhhhh Congrats! Happy Montherversay! That is so exciting! Glad to hear they are out and about

Hermit crabs can molt every month or every year, so maybe it's just not their time to molt. Or maybe they just don't like digging as much a most crabs do. They all have different personalities.